Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Anyone Can Draw!

If you're a big fan of Pixar like I am, you probably have come across the phrase: "Anyone can cook." It's in that movie about a cooking rat. Yes, it's from Ratatouille, spoken by the character Gusteau.

The story revolves around Remy, the rat who loves to cook, wants to cook. But ask any real chef about rats cooking and they will blanch at the thought. Nothing could be more unthinkable for a chef to have sewer vermin preparing food. Dogs, maybe. But rats? Hell, no!

Thankfully Remy didn't listen to the crowd and went on to be a master chef, impressing even Anton Ego, the vampire-like food critic who didn't believe that "anyone can cook". In fact he impressed Ego so much that Ego changed his mind, realising that "not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere".

Some friends tell me they never could draw. What they probably mean is they never seemed able to draw some things well. But I always believed that being able to draw well is not so much about talent, but about passion. If you're passionate about something, you'll find a way to get it done, and do it well. The good thing about passion and skill is that they can be aquired, but it is neither a quick nor effortless process. It is, however, immensely encouraging and enjoyable as you see yourself improving. The screeching of the violin will eventually turn into music, even if you don't become a Paganini.

It was Pablo Picasso who said, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." If you haven't been drawing for the most part of your adult life, don't get discouraged. Pick up a pencil. Doodle. Sketch. Copy. In time you will remember the joy of drawing, and you can pick up where you left off.